
UK PREMIERE of the GOLDEN GLOBE and BAFTA Nominated film Venus attended by: Peter O’Toole, Leslie Phillips, Jodie Whittaker, Richard Griffiths, Director Roger Michell & Corinne Bailey Rae on Monday, 22 January 2007 at the BLUEBIRD RESTAURANT and CHELSEA CINEMA, on the Kings Road, London. Buena Vista International (UK) will release Roger Michell’s VENUS across the UK and Ireland on January 26th 2007 starring Peter O’Toole, Leslie Phillips, Richard Griffiths, Vanessa Redgrave, and newcomer Jodie Whittaker. Peter O’Toole and Leslie Phillips are flying the flag for the mature British actor with nominations for this years Film awards for their performances in Roger Michell’s poignant comedy VENUS. Peter O’Toole was nominated for the Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture and has nominations for the Orange British Academy Film Award (BAFTA) for Actor in a Leading Role, the Screen Actors Guild for Lead Actor, the 12th Annual Critics Choice Award for Best Actor and the Satellite Award for Best Actor (Motion Picture Comedy/Musical). Leslie Phillips already awarded the British Independent Film Award for Best Supporting Actor in November 2006 has received nominations for the London Critic’s Circle Film Award for British Actor of the year in Support and Orange British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA) for Actor in a Supporting Role. Jodie Whittaker in her first screen role has been nominated for the London Critic’s Circle Film Award for British Newcomer of the Year and the Satellite Award for Best Actress (Motion Picture Comedy/Musical). A wry, affectionate coming of very-old-age story, VENUS reunites the team behind both the acclaimed film The Mother and the award-winning television series The Buddha of Suburbia: director Roger Michell, writer Hanif Kureishi and producer Kevin Loader. Maurice (O’Toole) and Ian (Phillips) are old friends, veteran English actors who never hit the big time. Now in their seventies, they continue to work but their comfortable routines and banter over breakfast in a favourite café are disrupted by the arrival from the provinces of Ian’s grand-niece, Jessie (Whittaker). She quickly tries her great-uncle’s patience. But Maurice is taken with the girl, and proceeds to show her the cultural sights of the capital. Maurice tries to teach Jessie something about life, but in the process he is surprised to discover how very little he actually knows now that his own life is drawing to a close. UK soul sensation Corinne Bailey Rae provides music for the VENUS soundtrack, which includes both songs from her debut album and tracks composed for the film score.
